THR Hip and head

[Bluemist]

Hi everyone,

I am on the public waiting list for a right hip replacement. (Australia), no cartlidge bone on bone and don’t I know it. I’m finding it increasingly difficult to stay positive. I really do try but lately I am just feeling more and more exhausted, distant, depressed. Not saying this is all hips fault- I try and find something to learn from everything, but lately all I can come up with is constant freaking pain is exhausting. I no longer want to see anyone, or go anywhere. (I do try and get to hydro at least twice a week though).
I try and take each day at a time but I am getting increasingly frustrated by little things and exhausted by pain. I used to be quite active walking 10km a day and now can barely walk at all. I am a qualified yoga teacher and therapist but my surgeon said no land based activity and I have too much pain and lack motivation anyway. For the first time in my life am putting on weight. I feel like a burden by just existing, very alone and don’t really know why I am here and feel like I have very little to contribute to the world. Thanks for letting me vent I know feelings come and go and hopefully tomorrow they may have drifted away from me a bit.

Bluemist.

 

[Mojo333]

Hi @Bluemist
Sincerest sympathies for your current situation as I HAVE been there and it IS miserable!
I felt so old, weary, and sleep deprived...
Finding out both my hips were bone-on-bone and my "Cure" was BTHR at age 53 was also very discouraging...
I lived on a heating pad for the last 6 months before surgery...and that was a minor help.

Well, I am now closing in on 6 years post BTHR, and am happy, healthy, and back to my active life.

I sure hope your wait isn't very much longer!

 

[subie2021]

@Bluemist I'm so sorry that you're suffering with such distress. You are in the right place to talk about it - most of us understand having been there ourselves.
My experience seems close to yours, just a gradual loss of my life that I could deal with, followed by a big slide down the cliff into the Valley of Nothing. It was a struggle to climb out.

A couple of things helped lift me up. I asked my PCP for medication to ease the pain. She prescribed an arthritis med that didn't do more than take the edge off, but that little bit allowed for somewhat more ease in everyday activities. A little later on she prescribed Tramadol, an opioid, that I took at night as it made me drowsy and allowed for some more restful sleep.
Although there was no way I could be as active as I was before my hip went bad, I tried to find ways to modify and maintain. I couldn't work with and train my dogs and horses, but I could groom them; 6 mile walks were out, but I could hobble down to the mailbox. Lower body exercises hurt too much, but upper body ones were OK. I felt silly doing chair routines designed for nursing home elderly, but they were better than nothing.
I couldn't enter competitions with my dogs, but I could participate as a committee and paperwork person.
You might have to absolutely push yourself for motivation. Make yourself do it, it does help.

Occasionally I threw myself a giant Pity Party and let the wailing rip. I did those when my DH was away and the dogs were outdoors. I think it helped to cut loose the negativity and tension.

I hope your wait isn't long. It's wonderful and amazing to be on the other side now. Going through the dark painful days gives new appreciation for so many simple things that were difficult, but now are easy as they ought to be.
You will get there.

 

[HollyNY]

@Bluemist - your description of the pain sounds like mine.

The pain of the bone on bone hip can't be managed w meds or heating pads. I should have stock in the company that made icy hot roll ons.

I tried to lean into the pain and just mentally check each day off as the weeks rolled by.

I had always cared for myself so admitting that I needed the extra help was difficult for me.

I was lucky to have absolute confidence in my hip surgeon. I knew that once the arthritis was gone it would be healing pain.

You will get there too. Break it down to each day . People are willing to help.

 

[LaKarune]

Hi everyone,
I no longer want to see anyone, or go anywhere. (I do try and get to hydro at least twice a week though).

Hi Bluemist. I’m so sorry you’re struggling so terribly. So glad you’re getting to hydro therapy twice a week. Like @subie2021 said, I’ve found that a strong anti-inflammatory (I’m taking a high dose of Celebrex) and Tramadol at night has made it possible to do some PT while I’m in waiting mode for surgery. It took 2 weeks for Celebrex to start working, so I took Tylenol and Aleve (dont know if these drugs have the same name in Aus) until it finally kicked in. PT has helped me SO much with recovering muscle access and the ability to distribute weight between my legs. My therapist uses a method she calls “blood flow” that simulates weighted exercise by constricting blood flow in my hurt leg. It blows my mind how effective it is.

I hope you can get some meds and a good PT to help you recover some access to movement while you wait.

 

[Jaycey]

@Bluemist So sorry you have to wait for surgery. Seems this is a common problem in many parts of the world. Please do everything you can to baby that sore hip.

Are you using any walking aid. I had to wait 6 months after my hip collapsed. I use one crutch to help keep the weight of my bad hip. I made all the difference in the world.

Regarding the exhaustion and depression - please remember this is all temporary. I had to keep reminding myself that this was not life for the future. Once that bad hip is gone there is SO much living to do.

Hang in there - we are with you all the way!

 

[Bluemist]

Thanks everyone @HollyNY what are icy hot roll ons??

@Jaycey I bought a walking stick mainly incase and to use a visual cue for people who are so self centred to move out of my way. I’ve used it once so far as unfortunately it doesn’t take away my pain and is just another thing for me to carry to and from pool.

I am on Panadol (I don’t think it does anything anymore) and am restricted what I can have due to allergies and stomach issues. I was given some drug after I had a really intense 3 hour burning agony pain where I completely blacked out from the intensity of the pain I told my gp I can’t go through that again the pain was so intense I wanted to die. However I haven’t had it because my level of pain hasn’t luckily got back to that level. I do have a high pain threshold but I’m getting to the point where I am exhausted with pain and also mental exhaustion trying to be positive telling myself I can get through it etc.

I’ve been waiting for a long time I held off for as long as I could because they said I was relatively young - that was a mistake my gp said age has nothing to do with it and quality of life is important. I am at highest category however due to Covid there is a massive backlog and long waiting time so even though I did see a surgeon last year I have no actual operation date. I suspect it will get pushed back further soon once XBB 1.5 rips through.

I have no access to a PT. I had hydrotherapy with a physio but that was cut off after a certain number of sessions. So I take my exercise sheet and do those myself however even driving is becoming difficult :( I’m in less pain in pool but unfortunately I can’t live in the pool lol and getting out of pool and back to car is becoming exhausting frustrating.

I am due to see my gp again soon so will see what she says.

 

[Jaycey]

@Bluemist Please don't make the mistake I made. Trying to stay with the exercising and hydro will only result in more pain and may cause a collapse. Activity in the water usually means you will over do as you are weightless. That joint does not need any activity now.

Yes, I gained weight as well. But once my surgery was done and I was active again the weight just went.

 

[LaKarune]

@Bluemist I was prescribed Celecoxib (branded Celebrex) bc it’s easier on the stomach than ibuprofen or naproxen and maybe more effective than both. That said, it took two weeks to start working, so if you’re cleared to use it, I really hope you can get it in you. It now helps a ton.

A good PT would be ideal too. I hope you can find one. Keep us posted on how you are doing.

 

[HollyNY]

Hi @Bluemist
Icyhot is a menthol based roll on for pain relief. It did nothing for the hip.

I would get back pain, groin pain, knee pain, metatarsal pain in both feet. All of it is gone.

I had hip dysplasia hence the early arthritis. My original xray looked so brutal that I apoligized when they brought it up on the monitor.

Any time it had to bear weight was agonizing. I could not walk without a cane, did not drive unless it was to a doc appt.

Like you, I was concerned w the life of the implant but both the surgeon and his PA said even if there was an expiration date stamped on my forehead to get the surgery now. New implants look good at 25 years so I might never need another one.

Your young age is an advantage!